Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17 ESV

As we approach Thanksgiving and the festivities surrounding this American holiday, I can’t help but look at gratitude differently. Sitting here in a paper isolation gown, wishing my regular clothes wouldn’t trigger a reaction, I have to say, “Thank you, Lord, for all that you’ve given us.” This year hasn’t been easy, full of trials that shake many people to the core. I’ve cried and whined, yet I have to say God has given us so much:

1. Each other and our families.
2. A home we call our own.
3. Our family members who have passed away in our recent past, even my brother who committed suicide, knew Jesus as Savior and Lord,
4. We have a bed and pillows, even though covered in plastic, which is more than many people nowadays.
5. My Boaz could retire in a warm climate, as his heart condition causes him to feel cold more easily.
6. I am free to write for the Lord.
7. Best of all, we know Jesus as our Savior and can testify to His goodness, mercy, and grace.

We have so much to be grateful for, even amid tremendous trials. Wouldn’t you agree?

In James 1, the Apostle James tells believers to count it all joy when we face all kinds of trials because it causes our faith to become firm, secure, and steadfast. So what was going on in the first-century church that he would need to encourage believers like this who face trials? James, likely the stepbrother of Jesus—born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus’s birth —writes to Hebrew Christians who have been displaced to various parts of the world. Life wasn’t easy for them; they were often persecuted for their faith. In fact, James was martyred around AD 62 (GotQuestions.org). He knew firsthand the difficult circumstances that brought trials, yet still found ways to be grateful.

How can we be thankful during challenging times? By considering the blessings God has given each one of us. Why? Because it strengthens our faith, we become better grounded in Christ. God produces fruit in our lives that lasts the test of time. I posted a meme today with a chemotherapy chair to help people gain some insight about how God could use my late husband during the trials of cancer, and its barbaric treatments (Twice Blessed). Sometimes, looking in our “rearview mirrors,” we see God’s hand at work despite our trials. We often want Him to rescue us and intervene because we want everything to be pleasant. Let’s not be functional hedonists, expecting God to give us an enjoyable life and make us happy all the time. Instead, Scripture points us to a much different life—one of sacrifice and hardship. Oftentimes, it is through adversity that we see our Lord’s works more clearly, drawing us to Himself.

What trials have you faced lately? Write them down and pray over them, asking the Holy Spirit to show you His work through them. How has God acted in these trials? Note them. What mercies has He granted you? Jot those down too. There is so much to be grateful for. It may be bittersweet, but God is always good. I found twenty-five passages that say God’s love endures forever (Psalm 108:1). Do you believe this to be true?

Prayer:

Lord, you are merciful and mighty. There is none like You. I am sorry for my doubt, my whining. Yet all I can see is how you have always been there for me. Your love indeed endures forever! Thank you for all the blessings you have given me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.